Reuters reported that Sydney has started patrols through an Australian-first measure: a 250-officer armed command formed after the Bondi Beach attack that killed 15 people in December 2025.
Reuters reported that the Armed Response Command is an A$94 million unit. Its officers carry Australian combat assault rifles. Heavily armed police are rare in Australia.
New South Wales police said the command will conduct “high visibility” patrols at large gatherings and busy public areas, including sports venues and places of worship.
Reuters reported that two men fired on a Jewish celebration at Bondi Beach. It described the attack as antisemitic and driven by Islamic State ideology.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Evans, the unit’s commander, said the command would position trained officers and equipment for a rapid response.
Amnesty International Australia voiced concern about the broader shift toward militarized policing and whether human-rights safeguards are adequate.
